98 - Honey

New Zealand honey is more effective against bacteria than antibiotics.

Australian scientists have discovered that even the feared hospital multi­resistant "super bacilli" perish when they come into contact with honey from the flowers of the Manuka tea tree from New Zealand.

The antibiotics in general use are becoming less and less effective because the microbes quickly evolve defence mechanisms. In the Manuka honey a breakdown product from sugar (methylglyoxal) strongly stresses the bacteria before they can develop any resistance.

The discovery has increased the application of medicinal honey as an alternative to antibiotics. It is traded by the New Zealand natural medicines company Comovita under the brand name Medihoney, and is already being used in the children's clinic at the University in Bonn, Germany.

Comovita now wants to widen its product range to include a gel and plasters containing honey.